Mail-box



(No Model.)

' W'. MGENDRBB.

MAIL BOX.

atented July 6, 1897.

NiTnn STATES PATENT Trina.

VILLIAM MCENDREE, OF MIN DEN, IOVA.

MAIL-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 585,777, dated July 6, 1897.

Application filed J une 1 8 1 8 9 6.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, VILLIAM MCENDREE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minden, in the county of Pottawattamie and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to mail-boxes.

My object is to provide a highly-superior mail-box especially adapted for use on the doors of residences, offices, &c., in places where the carrier system prevails.

A further object is the provision of an improved mail-box which can be opened both from the inside of thedoor and the outside thereof.

A still further object is to provide a door mail-box which can only be opened from the outside by unlocking and will sound an alarm when being opened.

Having these objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features and combinations appearing more fully hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional side elevation showing the mailbox closed; Fig. 2, a like view, but showing it open; Fig. 3, a front view, and Fig. 4a detail view of the locking mechanism.

The mail-box casing is designated by the numeral 1, while 2 is a section of an ordinary door. That portion of the casing which extends into the apartment is inclined upwardly, and the top of the box is provided with a hinged lid 3, so that the owner can remove the mail without being obliged to go outside. The front of the box is provided with anges 4, which are preferably sunk flush with the face of the door and secured thereto by screws or other fastening devices.

I provide a downwardly-swinging door 5, which is hinged on a round hinge-bar 6. One or more springs 7 tend to throw the door open, and the door and flanges may be made as ornamental as the owner desires. Near the upper edge of the swinging door there is an inwardly-projecting catch 8. 'Ihere is a pivoted locking catch -lever 9, whose head is thrown down and adapted for engagement Serial No. 595,967. (No model.)

with the catch by a coil-spring 9. is situated at the top of the box.

A cylindrical lock-casing 10, having an outer face 11, is located in the door 2 immediately abovethe mail-box. The face 11 is provided with two slits 12 for the insertion of a key 13, consisting of two thin flat arms and a thumb-button. the mail-carrier, so that only he can open the box from the outside. The lock-casing is provided with a partition 14, having slots l5 in coincidence with those in the face 11. The lock consists of two thin fiat strips 16 and 17, which are connected together by a plunger 18. A coil-spring 19, encircling the strips 16 and 17 and interposed between the plunger and partition, is the means for forcing the lock outward. The upper strip 1G is provided with a rack 20.

The numeral 21 designates a gong or bell, and 22 a pivoted clapper, whose free end rides on the rack-bar.

There is a pivoted tripping-lever 23, which is connected to strip 16 by a slot-and-stop con* nection 24, and this lever is provided with a head 25, which rests'on the free end of the catch-lever 8. i

The operation is as follows: The owner removes his mail through the top of' the box. When the carrier comes along, he inserts his key and pushes the .strips backward. This movement causes the bell to ring and also moves the tripping-1ever, dep'resses the rear end of the catch-lever, and allows the doorspring to open the door. On the removal of the key and the closing of the door the parts return to normal position.

It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein shown and described, but consider myself entitled to all such variations as come within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a mail-box, the combination with the box proper, of a door therefor, a catch adapted for engagement with the door to hold the same closed, a lock comprising an elongated guide-casing and a spring-actuated member movable longitudinally therein, an independent and detachable push-key adapted for in- This lever This key is in the hands of IOO sertion in the oase to move the member, and an operative connection between the said member and the catch that looks the door, said parts being so disposed and related that When the member is moved by the insertion of the key, the catch Will be tripped and the door released. y

2. In a mail-boX, the combination With the boX proper, of a door adapted to close the same, a pivoted spring-actuated Catch-lever adapted to look said door, a look comprising a easing and a spring-actuated member movable therein, a push-key adapted for insertion in the easing to move the spring-actuated member, and a pivoted tripping-lever aotuated by the movement of the said member and brought into engagement with the eatehlever, whereby the door is released.

3. In a mail-box, the combination With the box, of a door therefor, a pivoted catch-lever adaptedto engage with said door to hold the same looked, a spring-actuated member, a easing housing said member, a push-key for moving the member, and a pivoted trippinglever having a head or cam end adapted to ride on the catch-lever and move the same, and its other end connected by a slot-and stop connection to the slidable spring-pressed member.

4. In a mail-box, the Combination with the box proper, of a door therefor, a look eomprisin g a spring-actuated member, a rack connected to said member, a gong or bell, a clapper adapted to ring said gong and having a portion riding on the rack, releasable eatoh mechanism actuated by said member and adapted to hold the door closed when not aotuated, and a key for moving the member.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

l/VILLIAM MCENDREE.

Witnesses:

J. H. C. STUHR, J. M. CoATs. 

